Here’s a bad therapist story, Jon: I knew this person who was going to a therapist because of some really violent/disturbing childhood sexual abuse. Whenever she woulds start talking about it, the therapist would instantly fall asleep! It happened every time!

After the week I’ve had, I heartily endorse that general conclusion.

(Well, I guess I would say it as: people are generally poopy, and we should feel fortunate and enjoy it when the stars align properly so that people seem briefly unpoopy).

Life, and understanding other people, is always some work, no matter what your personal make-up. I just think that’s true.

And some people care more than others about trying to understand others. At least you’re interested in trying. Some people aren’t.

I fired three psychiatrists. One was completely obsessed with my bill, and refused to talk to me about anything but my medical insurance. At the time, I was hospitalized with major depression and I had no idea what my insurance did or did not cover. She refused to release me from the hospital until I paid for my sessions. As I said, our sessions were a series of hour long discussions about my insurance. I was finally found out that my insurance had paid her in full. I put a stop order on the check.

Since then I’ve fired two other psychiatrists who were, in my opinion, medicating me capriciously.

I’ll have to admit that I’m feeling some despair about problems with depression. Yes, yes, my depression is making me feel depressed. I’m seeing a therapist right now. She spends a lot of time trying to help me with the voice of “The Critic”, a never ending voice in my head that tells me that I’m doomed, a failure, a loser etc. etc. I don’t know that I’m making any progress, and I’m not sure I can afford to see her either. The problem with her is that I like her. I’m paying to visit my good friend. She does talk about herself sometimes, but any therapeutic “friendship” is way too one sided: I have a wonderful friend who encourages me to talk about myself and pays rapt attention to my every word. Real friends want a little more back and forth.

She hasn’t been to a Dr. about it, but now she’s sure she has it.

She may be right. The description on the “social differences” section of the following link certainly fits her well. I think she may have a fairly mild case, as she doesn’t seem to have any of the physical symptoms, and she doesn’t fixate on objects at all:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

Also, someone we know from our college days was diagnosed with this. Maybe you’ve heard about that. I kind of hate to print the name here and “out” him, but he someone who is very tall.

Since my mom “decided” that she has this, I’ve been more sensitive to this diagnosis in people, in general, and have even tried to see if I might have it.

It’s interesting reading, in any case.